Revision as of 14:52, 5 October 2007

This page covers the various ways that the roomba can be connected to the computer -- namely by Bluetooth (RooTooth) and Serial (RooStick). In this lab, you should have been given a 7-pin serial cable and a Roostick (a USB to serial converter).

When the USB (CP2103) to Serial (UART) Converter is installed, you can now connect your Roomba to your computer via the serial cable.

This next step is important. You must now find the Serial Port Number, a.k.a. Roomba Port. The serial port number is used to tell applications through which port must be used to talk to your Roomba. This can be found by accessing Device Manager, which is Window's interface for managing hardware communicating with Windows. To access Device Manager, follow these steps:

Right-click on "My Computer" and select Properties (you can also open My Computer Right-click somewhere in the folder, then Properties)

A dialogue box should now appear. Click on the "Hardware" tab near the center top of the dialogue box.

Select "Device Manager"

If the Converter was installed correctly, in the list of devices, there should be a "Ports (COM & LPT)" Expand this menu

Once exanded, there should be a device called "CP210x USB to UART Bridge Controller" Next to this is your Serial Port Number; Example: (COM3), (COM4), (COM6)

Remember this port for Future reference. This is your Roomba Port.

BlueTooth & RooTooth

Windows

Run Bluetooth Setup Wizard

Select 2nd Option ("I want to find a specific Bluetooth device and configure how this computer will use its services")

open cmd.exe and run 'java -Djava.library.path=rxtxlib -classpath ".;rxtxlib/RXTXcomm.jar" roombacomm.RoombaCommTest' from the roombacomm directory

Select "COM6" at the top and hit connect

Have fun (you might have to use reset to get it going)

OSX

Plug the RooTooth into Roomba

Go into your Mac System Preferences.

Under the Hardware category, select Bluetooth.

There should be three tabs that appear at the lower top center of the box, "Settings," "Devices,", and "Sharing." Select "Devices."

Now, click on the "Setup New Device" on the lower right of the box.

Great, you have located the new-bluetooth-setup wizard... and it welcomes you.

Go ahead and select "Any device," because no other option is for programming robot vacuum cleaners (why, Apple, why!?)

The wizard now searches for the RooTooth. Depending on your RooTooth, it may say "RooTooth," as it appears in this screen-shot, or it may say "BlueRadios," which is the bluetooth chip used in the newer RooTooths (RooTeeth?). There will be many other bluetooth devices that appear, but just fish through the options, find RooTooth, and continue.

So the wizard finishes gathering information on the RooTooth device. Yay. Continue.

In order to "pair" RooTooth with your computer (connect RooTooth with only your computer), you must enter its password. This password may be different for each RooTooth, so consult your instructor about the matter. The password is either 'default' or '1234'

Great, you are now paired. There are no services found -- this is normal.

Congratulations! You have finished with the wizard...! But you are not quite finished :(

This next step is important. Now you must find your Roomba Port. The Roomba Port is used to tell applications through which port must be used to talk to your Roomba. The Roomba Port can be found through several methods... which will now be covered here:

Commnand LineThis is probably the easiest way of finding the Roomba Port, but many people are intimidated by command-lines or do not know how they work. If this is you, skip to "Mac BlueTooth Preferences." If you choose to take this method, take note that you have gained cool-points (you are that much more 1337), which can be used to buy approving head-nods from certain peers, but are otherwise worth nothing.

Open up Terminal.app from the Utilities folder in the Applications folder (*The terminal provided as an example here may be different colors than yours)

Type into the prompt, "cd /dev" and hit enter

Type into the prompt, "ls".

A long list of stuff will appear. Scroll up until you see lines of stuff that say something like "cu.something"

Your incomplete Roomba Port is the one that says "cu.RooTooth-COM0-1," for example. Again, this depends on your RooTooth and can be something else, such as Blueradios.

Your complete Roomba Port is this cu.something text with the text "/dev/" appended onto the front of it. So if you see "cu.something," than your complete Roomba Port is "/dev/cu.something"

Copy they port down for future reference.

Mac BlueTooth Preferences

Go into your Mac System Preferences.

Under the Hardware category, select Bluetooth.

There should be three tabs that appear at the lower top center of the box, "Settings," "Devices,", and "Sharing." Select "Devices."

There should be an option such as "RooTooth" or "Blueradios (depending on your RooTooth)

Highlight this option and click on "Edit Serial ports"

Your incomplete Roomba Port is listed as the "Port Name."

Your complete Roomba Port is that "Port Name" with "/dev/cu." appended onto the front of it. So if the "Port Name" is "RooTooth-COM0-1," than your complete Roomba Port is "/dev/cu.RooTooth-COM0-1"